Dancing with Drukhari
Judge Abethin Hallen of Arbites Precinct 5 asked the Inquisition to assist on the case of a missing noble. Instead they uncovered an drug ring capturing slaves for the Dark Eldar.
Briefing
Judge Abethin Hallen made the request of the Inquisition and Inquisitor Michael picked it up as the only Inquisitor available at the time. He passed it on to Ash, Max, Hannat and Acid to investigate with instruction to call him if they needed help or if it turned out to involve aliens.
Background
- Clarine Gethan was missing
- A known user of "Drift"
- Drift is a mild narcotic largely ignored by the Arbites and local Magistratum
- Subsequent analysis of Drift had baffled the Arbites
- 19 years old
- Known to frequent food dispensaries and other charitable organisations for the poor
- Also known to socialise and go clubbing in lower areas of Hive Sejanus
Drift Investigation
- Checking in with various experts, drift was determined to contain an unknown xenos flora component
- Michael's contacts identified it as Netarai Sonnambulans
- Known to originate on Ealdari Maiden Worlds
- Engineered as a medicinal plant, mostly to sooth nerves but can be engineered for different properties
- When taken by humans, has very predictable results if refined
Climbing the ladder
Alongside the chemical analysis, the team went down to the Helas Dome where Clarine Gethan was known to frequent and started investigating the drug trade. They investigated some of the places she was known to frequent and found her favourite nightclubs where they found a drug dealer and Hannat began buying drugs.
Things go sideways
By the time the team had established what the drug was, they had also uncovered that many other long-time users of drift had also gone missing. It having been over a week since Clarine Gethan had disappeared, Michael made it clear to the team that their priority was finding out who was supplying this drug and where it came from, with an emphasis on discovering if there was any possibility of a portal into the Webway. By this time whatever state Clarine Gethan was in, dead or alive, was unlikely to change anytime soon.
Despite this, when the team went to stake out a drug drop to pick up the trail of the suppliers, Max went off-plan and continued to investigate Clarine's favourite nightclub, Tenebrae, looking for a trace of her. Against her better judgement Ash permitted this deviation as long as he did not get into trouble. When he was invited into the VIP area after showing a bartender Clarine's photo, Ash explicitly ordered him not to go until she arrived to back him up. Max went in regardless and immediately afterwards his radio went dead. When Ash arrived shortly thereafter she was captured by 4 armed thugs and Acid called in Michael for support.
Ash was drugged and interrogated. Her resistance was strong, but ultimately admitted that they were Inquisition. She was about to be executed when Michael arrived with backup. Sarge, Sister Airi and Amon, backed up by the 5th Thoratis Veterans stormed the building. Acid and Hannat had scaled the roof to try for a stealthy infiltration and were just in time to see the roof open and reveal three jetbikes. One figure mounted one and escaped, and Acid directed her plasma grenade servo skull "Sue 2" to guard the others and destroy them if necessary.
The Agents were rescued and the drug ring shut down, but the mastermind, a Xenos known as "The Mistress", got away. IT was established that the drug was giving users visions fo wanting to get into the VIP lounge at Tenebrae, and those that arrived would then be shipped away to become slaves of the Drukhari.
Aftermath
In the debrief afterwards Max got something of a dressing down for going off alone and disobeying orders, although Michael stressed it as a learning point rather than something he would be punished for. Michael also explained to the agents was what likely to be in store for a slave of the Drukhari, to whit, torture and eventual consumption of their soul. Max volunteered to be the one to break the news to Clarine Gethan's parents that she would not be coming back, and Michael suggested he lie and tell them she was dead.
Communications
+++TO: Max Drent
+++FROM: Inquisitor Michael
+++SUBJECT: Piloting an experimental pursuit vehicle
Max,
I'm continuing the hunt for "the Mistress" and I wish to be ready next time. Acetae has been preparing an experimental pursuit vehicle for me. I'm hopeful that when we catch up with her next we'll be better prepared to surround her and cut her off, but just in case I want to be ready to pursue her if she gets away in her jet bike again.
We need a test pilot, and potentially eventually pursuit pilot, for an experimental vehicle that is very small and dangerously fast. Naturally I thought of you.
The first stage would be just testing out the vehicle out in the countryside. Deployment within the hive would only take place once both engineer and pilot were completely happy with the performance, and then only if absolutely necessary.
It's an offer, not a request or and order. I have a few Navy pilots in mind if you're not interested.
Yours,
Gregory
+++MESSAGE ENDS
+++TO: Inquisitor Michael
+++FROM: Max Drent
+++SUBJECT: Piloting an experimental pursuit vehicle
Gregory (Michael? Sir? Inquisitor? Which one is right?)
Yes. Yes, please. I’m a bit confused though, Sir (Gregory?). If you’ve got other pilots, why are you asking me after what happened in the club? Not that I’m complaining! I promise I’ll work super hard, extra time, help Acetae, whatever you need. Next time we’ll be ready for them.
Sincerely,
Max
+++MESSAGE ENDS
+++TO: Max Drent;
+++FROM: Inquisitor Michael;
+++SUBJECT: Re: Piloting an experimental pursuit vehicle
Max,
I see my attempt to get you to relax a little has backfired spectacularly. Perhaps it would be best if we go back to Michael.
I can’t see how your performance at the club has any bearing on your skills as a pilot. I rather hope you will learn from the experience and be a better Agent, and indeed a better person for it. It seems like perhaps it was a timely lesson for you.
Let me put it this way, if I give you an order that you don’t personally agree with, what will you do? Perhaps you’re chasing the Dark Eldar and you have her in your sights. I tell you to abort and return to base but you are absolutely certain that in a few more moments you will have her. What will you do?
Yours,
Michael
+++END MESSAGE
+++TO: Inquisitor Michael
+++FROM: Max Drent
+++SUBJECT: Piloting an experimental pursuit vehicle
Michael,
I’d return to base. But I’d tell you that I could get her.
Sincerely,
Max
+++END MESSAGE
+++TO: Max Drent;
+++FROM: Inquisitor Michael;
+++SUBJECT: Re: Piloting an experimental pursuit vehicle
Max,
Good answer.
Meet Acetae in the garages tomorrow morning. The convoy will be departing at 6am. It should be about a 3 hour drive each way and you’ll be back by nightfall. I believe Sister Du Puy is organising the lunch, so unless you are particularly fond of cous cous salad I suggest you bring some snacks with you.
Yours,
Michael
+++END MESSAGE
+++TO: Ashar Lear; Max Drent; Hannat Rekord; Amon Carlin;
+++FROM: A(|D
+++SUBJECT: Tenebrae
Ok, so I’ve been thinking about Tenebrae. I have to admit, I had been looking forward to going there and was a bit gutted when we had to storm the place and shoot it up and arrest everyone. But then I got thinking about how Siv bought that factory after the mess with all the cultists and I wondered if maybe I could ask Michael if I could have the club and maybe open it up again.
I thought it might be a useful little source of intel, but to be honest the odds of the Inquisition ever having to go back there on business are vanishingly small, we can’t open up private businesses in every neighbourhood across the entire sector.
Then I thought maybe it might be a useful place to try and draw in other hackers and kind of make a sort of dark network of hackers, none of whom know they really work for the Inquisition. Thing is a) that could backfire in a really big way and b) again, Hive massive, number of useful hackers in it vanishingly small, most of them would live their entire lives without ever hearing about the club.
So… is there any merit in this idea at all? I mean I guess I could do it just for fun but to be honest it sounds like a lot of work to run a club and Michael isn’t likely to want me spending loads of time at the absolute arse of the hive for when something important comes up.
A(|D
+++END MESSAGE
+++TO: A(|D
+++FROM: Max Drent
+++SUBJECT: Tenebrae
I mean, the image of you as a club owner is worth it all by itself! I get what you mean though, it’s a lot of effort for a fair long shot of a reward…
It doesn’t have to take all your time. Siv doesn’t run AGAT himself. He has a team of people who do it for him. We meet up with them every month or so and tell them what he wants, bla, bla, bla … You could do that too?
Also, the club doesn’t HAVE to provide something for the Inquisition. If it isn’t a hindrance I can’t see Michael caring, though 2limbs might know otherwise. AGAT wasn’t a direct benefit to the Inquisition at all when Siv got it. That isn’t why he bought it. He did it because he saw the chance to fuck up a shady company, and improve the lives of a bunch of people, and because that’s what he wanted to do!
Indirectly though, AGAT has actually been fucking useful. Siv setting the company up and just having it has been super useful for a bunch of other missions.
A club could do the same thing, but if we ever have to do something underhive/gang related? You could still use it as place to look out for hackers, and you might end finding another you! (Though obviously not as good).
Lastly, although this is bit more “one less rat in the underhive-y”, you owning the club means it’s one less place for some other shithead with nefarious intentions to own. You could look after the people you employ.
I say go for it!
Hugs and Kisses,
Maxie xx
P.S. could you psy proof the club? and then our friendly neighbourhood psykers can enjoy the pleasures of getting club trashed again?
+++END MESSAGE
+++TO: Ashar Lear; Max Drent; Hannat Rekord; Amon Carlin;
+++FROM: A(|D
+++SUBJECT: Re: Tenebrae
That’s a good point. I could hire a manger and just be the mysterious owner behind the scenes. We could get some good security and make it a gang-free zone, give people somewhere to get away from the violence. It’s not exactly orphanage level charity but it could be a little slice of nice in a bad place. Plus I guess I could push the proceeds into the local soup dispensaries or something.
How has AGAT been useful? I don’t think I was on any of those missions.
I’d have to ask Acetae about psy-damping. I have no idea how it works but my best guess is that if it were easy it would be more prevalent. I suppose a middle ground would be just outfitting a single VIP room?
Hmmm… What about personal dampers? I mean if it works for Ash could psykers have the same but opposite? Or… I guess that probably would feel similar to having Ash nearby and unblocked?
Burn me for a filthy heretic but is it strictly necessary to drink to have fun? I quite like a good beer or three but I generally prefer to avoid getting hammered anyway. But then again I guess it’s easy to not miss what you are free to have whenever you want it.
A(|D
+++END MESSAGE
+++TO: A(|D; Ashar Lear; Hannat Rekord; Amon Carlin;
+++FROM: Max Drent
+++SUBJECT: Re: Tenebrae
We definitely used AGAT as part of our cover when we were looking into the Xenos race cars. I’ve rarely used it, if I’m honest, but I feel like Siv did a lot.
Definite heresy, you monster. Nah, I’ve been the designated driver. You don’t need beer to have a good time, but it definitely helps! Plus, Rosie and Nads looked so bummed during movie night. It was just a thought. Shielding the VIP room is a great idea, if a slightly grim throwback to the previous owners, and you’re so buddy-buddy with Acetae that I’m sure he’d do it for you.
Can you make dampeners for psykers?!? So, we could just whack out a bunch of anti-psy collars and they wouldn’t have to worry about any… nasty stuff that comes with being magic? How would that work?! Would Acetae know about that? Could we look it up?
The donating your profits is a pretty sick idea, but you don’t need to save orphans or run a soup kitchen for this to be a good thing. A legit business operating and treating people well can only do good things. But any left-over money (after you’ve hired a bitchin’ manager and bunch of dench security dudes) definitely wouldn’t hurt.
Hugs and Kisses,
Maxie xx
+++END MESSAGE
+++TO: A(|D; Max Drent; Hannat Rekord; Amon Carlin;
+++FROM: Ash Lear
+++SUBJECT: Re: Tenebrae
Psy damping would work in theory, but then you'd be turning a load of drunk psykers out onto the street at the end of the night, which...isn't safe. Any psyker bar would have to be super specific and probably have pariah bartenders and rooms for the night.
A psyker bar is...not gonna lie, lads, it sounds terrifying to me. An awful lot could go wrong. In an Ordo Malleus way, if you get what I mean. You've seen what happens when they go bad, right?
Yours, killjoy battle mum,
Ash
+++END MESSAGE
+++TO: Ashar Lear; Max Drent; Hannat Rekord; Amon Carlin;
+++FROM: A(|D
+++SUBJECT: Re: Tenebrae
Another good point. We can’t exactly advertise that we have Inquisition grade psy-dampers, and if they get drunk and then step out of the shielding… Not good. Not everyone has a Null to walk you home and a psy-proof cell to sleep it off in.
Also I asked Acetae about how easy it is to get psi-shielding and he laughed at me. Well actually he said 00110001 00111101 00110010 but that’s basically the same thing if you speak mech-cant.
A(|D
+++END MESSAGE